Mike Sarfaty
Michael Nissim Sarfaty
25 Nov 1952 - 20 Jan 1993
Clubs & Associations
Obituary
With loving friends at his side, Mike's five-year battle with AIDS ended peacefully at his home on January 20.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mike moved to San Francisco in 1976 after completing his graduate studies in environmental science at UC Berkeley. He founded Liberty Heights Realty in 1980. Throughout his productive career as a broker, promoting gay ownership of Bay Area real estate was a major priority.
Mike confronted health issues with the same resolve and tenacity he brought to everything else in his life. To the end, he was strong-willed, feisty and determined to meet problems head-on. He had an insatiable appetite for information, and loved to debate all sides of an issue. An accomplished square dancer and outdoorsman, he was equally at home on the ski sloped or programming his computer.
Mike was a giver, never a taker, who tended to take control of his friends' problems and make them his own. His commitment to human rights, environmental and gay-related causes will continue through the charitable trust he created before his death.
Mike's friends and loved ones will miss his directness, intensity, charm and wram, sparkling smile. In addition to his gay family, his survivors include his brother Bob Loveless of Montreal; his father Bernie Sarfaty, and his mother Sadie in Los Angeles. For more information, call 821-1192. [1]
Remembrances
Hi James,
Guess who is bawling like a baby right now? Yup, ME.
THAT is the man I loved with all my heart. Seeing that Panel brings back all the love, laughter, discussions and dancing that we shared. After teaching him to dance the Boy's part, we argued (a lot, lol) over who would dance which part at a dance, or even every tip!!
I miss him as much now as I did back when he first passed away. I am SO glad I called him that day and told him that I love(d) him. He was special to my kids also. They still talk about him, and how nice he was to them.
Thanks to Mike, I have gotten to meet some REALLY wonderful people and dancers who have made my life so much richer. To this day, my favorite square setup is 7 guys and me, and I am dancing Boy.
Thank you, James, for sending me this wonderful memory. I remember making the outfits from scraps from our matching square dance outfits.
Thank you, again, James.
Always,
— Mary Crawford
Memorial Panel
- 1UL | Foggy City Dancers
Photos
At a San Francisco Fly-In, April 1989
Obituary (Bay Area Reporter)
AIDS Memorial Quilt Block 2938
Sources
- ↑ Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, CA) Thursday, 25 Feb 1993
